Compare towns

Canton vs Dedham vs Ogunquit vs Somerset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Somerset has the most affordable homes ($419k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureCantonDedhamOgunquitSomerset
People
Population
24,748
25,237Highest
1,379Lowest
18,298
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±2.3Lowest
10% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
47±2.2
21% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.9%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Canton and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.3%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
67.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$143,381±$9kHighest
78% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$112,677±$6kLowest
40% above U.S.
Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$710,600±$27k
114% above U.S.
$661,800±$16k
99% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$418,800±$18kLowest
26% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,315±$178Highest
64% above U.S.
$2,042±$182
45% above U.S.
—
$1,271±$93Lowest
10% below U.S.
Canton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,560
110% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$4,977
60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±9.1
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.3%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Somerset and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1962
18 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
25.7%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #81 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA — #132 of 282 in MA
School district Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Dedham — Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset
High school in town Canton High Dedham High — Somerset Berkley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
10.4Lowest
—
11.6
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U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.